Hundreds to get taxpayer-funded stomach stapling

Hundreds of people could get taxpayer-funded stomach-stapling operations each year under drastic measures being investigated to curb obesity.

With nearly one in three Kiwis overweight and 826,100 people classified as obese, according to the latest Government health survey, health officials confirm they are investigating a proposal that could allow hundreds of them to have surgery to beat the bulge.

The Health Ministry is considering "surgical and non-surgical options" for treating the morbidly obese, whose size is life-threatening. Last year there were just 70 publicly funded operations nationwide. Click here for full article.